[Adrenal insufficiency of the adult]

Abstract

Adrenal insufficiency is a rare but life-threatening disorder. Clinical manifestations include fatigue, weight loss, gastrointestinal manifestations and skin hyperpigmentation, the latter being specific of primary adrenal failure. Because of non-specific clinical features of this rare disorder, diagnosis can be delayed and adrenal failure be revealed by an acute crisis. Adrenal insufficiency can be primary (Addison disease), most frequently autoimmune, or secondary, resulting from long term administration of exogenous glucocorticoids or more rarely from pituitary disorders. Monitoring of substitutive treatment is now well codified. Patient education is very important in this chronic disease that remains associated with a persistent high risk of adrenal crisis.

Keywords: Addison disease; Adrenal crisis; Adrenal insufficiency; Corticothérapie prolongée; Glucocorticoids; Insuffisance surrénale aiguë; Insuffisance surrénalienne; Maladie d’Addison; Pathologie hypothalamo-hypophysaire; Pituitary disorders.